Overview
Lecturer
Natalia Gloria Muntean
Seminar tutor
Natalia Gloria Muntean
Type of course
Elective (1 of 3)
Language of instruction
English
Erasmus language
English
Domain
Language and literature
Field of study
Romanian Language and Literature - English Language and Literature
Form of education
Full-time
Form of instruction
Class
Credit awarded by
Grade
Teaching methods
Vocabulary exercises, speaking using visual prompts, making a short presentation, exposition of essay outlines, writing tasks, feedback on writing tasks.
Entry requirements
B1, B2 English level
Aims
Updating, correcting, and developing the previously acquired English skills
Acquiring and developing the communication skills focused on various speech domains, needs and situations.
Acquiring and developing the communication skills for academic research focused mainly on conference presentations and presentation of research.
Acquiring and developing the writing skills, according to different types of essays required.
Course contents
Oral English
2. Health
Expressing reason/purpose.
Country life and city life
Speculating.
2. Shopping
Expressing advantages and disadvantages.
Celebrations
Making assumptions/deductions.
Emotional states – related adjectives.
3. Music
Discussing benefits.
Human achievements
Expressing effects/results; prioritising things.
Describing personality – related adjectives.
4. Committing offences
Expressing possibility.
Social problems
Giving strong advice, making recommendations.
Media – related language.
5. Emergency services
Listing points.
Jobs
Expressing opinion.
Describing art – artistic preferances.
6. Leisure time
Expressing opinion.
Sources of information
Expressing advantages and disadvantages.
Making a presentation.
7. Companionship
Expressing feelings/opinion.
Learning experiences
Making a presentation.
Written English
8. Structuring an essay
9. Paraphrasing and synonyms
• How to use paraphrasing to avoid repetition and achieve clarity and fluency: 1. Using synonyms, 2. Changing word order, 3. Changing the form of the word.
10. Generating relevant ideas
• Using key words from the topic question to develop relevant ideas: 1. Domain familiarization, 2. Brainstorming, 3. Mind mapping, 4. The 5 questions method.
11. Vocabulary
• Finding and using vocabulary relevant to the domain of the essay question; learning to work with synonyms.
12. Coherence
• Using cohesive devices to enhance fluency and clarity of ideas, to express: contrast, result, concession, inference, sequence, etc.
13. Common problems
• Identifying the most common mistakes: 1. Talking too generally about the topic, 2. Not including a thesis statement, 3. Trying to be too entertaining and using flowery language, 4. Using too informal a style.
Learning outcomes
Developing speaking and writing abilities related to specific topic questions;
Adapting the vocabulary, grammatical structures and register to the specific question addressed;
Structuring the essay and employing the necessary cohesive devices.
Assessment
Oral examination and written essays by students: – 60%; continuous assessment – 40%.
Recommended reading
Murphy Raymond, Essential English in Use, Cambridge University Press, second edition.
Thomas, B., Matthews, L., Vocabulary for First Certificate, Cambridge University Press.
Pye, D., Greenall, S., CAE - Listening and Speaking Skills, Cambridge University Press, 1996.
Walker Hammond, W., Peterson’s Master TOEFL Writing Skills, Peterson’s, 2007.
Betsis, A., Mamas, L., 10 CAE Practice Tests, Global ELT Ltd, 2014.